Note 1 - Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 1: Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

The Company was incorporated in the State of Louisiana on June 27, 1930. The Company’s business is the ownership and management of land. The primary activities consist of leasing its properties for minerals (oil and gas), raising and harvesting timber, and surface use (agriculture, right of ways, hunting).

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.

Risks and Uncertainties

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. While the Company did not incur significant disruptions to its operations during 2020, 2021, or 2022 from COVID-19, it is unable at this time to predict the impact that COVID-19 or new variants of the novel coronavirus could have on its business, financial position, and operating results in future periods due to numerous uncertainties and is closely monitoring the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains its cash balances in seven financial institutions. At times, cash balances may be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insured limit of $250,000. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk on its cash balances.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Equity Investment

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” (ASU 2016-01), which makes targeted amendments to the guidance for recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. The guidance under ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments, other than equity method investments, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. As of December 31, 2022, and 2021, the Company classified $0 and $502,832, respectively, of mutual funds as equity securities. The Company invests in ultra-short, high quality U.S. dollar money market funds, foreign funds, and obligations issued by the U.S. Government.

Accounts Receivable

The Company’s accounts receivable consists of incomes received after quarter-end for royalties produced prior to quarter-end. When there are royalties that have not been received at the time of the preparation of the financial statements for months in the prior quarter, the Company estimates the amount to be received based on the average of the most recent 12 month’s royalties that were received from that particular well. The Company does not maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts because other than the accrual for earned but not received royalties, it has no accounts receivable.

Property, Building and Equipment

Property, building, and equipment is stated at cost. Major additions are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line and accelerated methods over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:

Furniture and equipment (years)	5	-	7
Land improvements (years)		15

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets, such as land, timber and property, buildings, and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If events or circumstances arise that require a long-lived asset to be tested for potential impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the fair value. Fair value may be determined through various valuation techniques including quoted market prices, third-party independent appraisals and discounted cash flow models. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company performed a step zero impairment analysis on furniture and fixtures and land improvements and determined there were no qualitative factors that would indicate impairment. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, no impairment triggering factors were noted and no quantitative analysis was performed.

Share-Based Compensation

We maintain one active incentive compensation plan: the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan). The Plan provides for the issuance of restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance-based restricted stock units (PSUs) to certain of our employees, non-employee directors and consultants.

For awards that are subject to market conditions, we utilize a binomial-lattice model (i.e., Monte Carlo simulation model), to determine the fair value. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables to determine the share-based compensation expense. For grants with market conditions made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, we utilized an annualized volatility of 39.6%, a 0% dividend yield and an annual risk-free interest rate of 3.5% each determined over a period consistent with the performance period associated with the awards with market conditions. The volatility was based on the last two-year period of our stock performance. The stock price projection for us assumes a 0% dividend yield. This is mathematically equivalent to reinvesting dividends in the issuing entity over the performance period. The risk-free interest rate is equal to the yield, as of the measurement date, of the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill that is commensurate with the remaining performance measurement period.

Share-based compensation expense related to RSUs are expensed over the grant date to the end of the requisite service period using the straight-line method. PSUs are expensed over the grant date to the end of the requisite service period using a model-driven derived service period based upon the median of the price projection scenarios for each performance trigger. The RSUs and PSUs do not have voting rights. We calculate the fair value of our share-based awards on the date of grant.

Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for revenue under ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). In accordance with ASC 606, we recognize revenues when the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of a contract with a customer exists, (ii) identifiable performance obligations under the contract exist, (iii) the transaction price is determinable for each performance obligation, (iv) the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation, and (v) the performance obligations are satisfied. We derive a majority of our revenues from oil and gas royalties, timber sales, and surface leases. Surface leases are not within the scope of ASC 606 and are accounted for under ASC 842. See Note 9 for more detailed information about the Company’s reportable segments.

Oil and Gas

Oil and gas revenue is generated through customer contracts, where we provide the customer access to a designated tract of land upon which the customer performs exploration, extraction, production and ultimate sale of the oil and gas. The Company receives royalties on all oil and gas produced by the customer. The performance obligation identified in oil and gas related contracts is the oil and gas produced on the designated tract of land. The performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time, which is when the customer produces oil and gas. The transaction price is comprised of fixed fees (royalties) on all oil and gas produced. The Company accrues monthly royalty revenues based upon estimates and adjusts to actual as the Company receives payments. Net accrued royalty income was $126,423 and $50,379 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. There are no capitalized contract costs associated with oil and gas contracts. The accounting for royalty income remains largely unchanged upon implementation of ASC 606.

Timber

Timber revenue is generated through customer contracts executed as a pay-as-cut arrangement, where the customer acquires the right to harvest specified timber on a designated tract for a set period of time at agreed-upon unit prices. The performance obligation identified in timber related contracts is the severing of a single tree.

We satisfy our performance obligation when timber is severed, at which time revenue is recognized. The transaction price for timber sales is determined using contractual rates applied to harvest volumes. The Company may receive a deposit at the time of entering into a stumpage agreement and this deposit is recorded in unearned revenue until earned. The Company held stumpage agreement deposits of $0 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. There are no capitalized contract costs associated with timber contracts. No revenue has been recognized on the stumpage agreements held by the Company that are still open. The amount deposited by the customer is recognized as revenue against the first timber harvested. If no timber is harvested by the end of the contract the deposit is retained and recognized as income at contract end. The accounting of timber revenue remains largely unchanged upon implementation of ASC 606.

Surface

Surface revenue is earned through annual leases for agricultural and hunting activities and the Company records revenues evenly over the term of these leases. Surface revenues from these sources are recurring on an annual basis.

Surface revenue is also earned through right of way and related temporary work-space leases, both of which are not unusual in occurrence and are not recurring sources of revenue. Generally, a right of way lease relates to either a utility or pipeline right of way that is a permanent servitude or exists for fixed periods of time greater than thirty years. The Company retains ownership of the land and the servitude is limited to the use of the surface. Revenue is recorded at the time of the agreement’s execution date. For income tax purposes, these types of agreements are treated as sales of business assets.

Other sources of surface revenue can be commercial activities leases and sales of surface minerals, such as dirt.

Basic and Diluted Earnings per share

Net earnings per share is provided in accordance with FASB ASC 260-10, "Earnings per Share". Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive income per share excludes all potential common shares if their effect is anti-dilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2022, potentially dilutive shares attributable to 310,794 restricted stock units and performance shares were excluded in the calculation of earnings per share as their effect is anti-dilutive due to the Company's net loss for such period. There were no dilutive shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Dividends

The Company does not currently pay dividends on a regular basis. In determining whether to declare a dividend, the Board of Directors takes into account the Company’s prior fiscal year’s cash flows from operations and the current economic conditions, among other information deemed relevant. Dividends paid per common stock are based on the weighted average number of common stock shares outstanding during the period. No dividends were declared during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Pursuant to a dividend reversion clause in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, dividends not claimed within one year after the dividend becomes payable will expire and revert in full ownership to the Company and the Company’s obligation to pay such dividend will cease. Any dividend reversions are recorded in equity upon receipt.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws.

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company has analyzed its filing positions in federal and state income tax returns for the tax returns that remain subject to examination. Generally, returns are subject to examination for three years after filing. The Company believes that all filing positions are highly certain and that all income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained upon a taxing jurisdiction’s audit. Therefore, no reserve for uncertain tax positions is required. No interest or penalties have been levied against the Company and none are anticipated.

Other Taxes

Taxes, other than income taxes, which consisted of property, franchise and oil and gas production taxes were $140,840 and $146,095, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Leases

The Company leases its lands to individuals and entities for various purposes. The Company accounts for these types of leases in accordance with ASC 842, Leases, and subsequent amendments, which require that leases be evaluated and classified as operating or capital leases for financial reporting purposes. For leases classified as operating, the Company calculates rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the lease term including renewal options, if reasonably assured, or the economic life of the leased premises, taking into consideration rent escalation clauses and other lease concessions, if applicable. The Company has no capital leases as of December 31, 2022, or 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

There are various updates recently issued to the accounting literature and these are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.